Retake a 502? MD only

[tavokeri9]

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Is it necessary to retake a 502 MCAT if applying MD-only? Like is there a chance that adcoms will be forgiving towards the score and consider it as good since it is above 500 (the score AAMC emphasizes)?

 

[Affiche]

502 equates to like a 26/27 on the old scale. Adcoms will be looking at percentiles, so they'll see you fall somewhere above a 26 and somewhere below a 27, so you should plan to retake.

 

[tavokeri9]

502 equates to like a 26/27 on the old scale. Adcoms will be looking at percentiles, so they'll see you fall somewhere above a 26 and somewhere below a 27, so you should plan to retake.

Thanks for the info! So it's decided that all schools will look at percentiles then?

Also, do you know if this table will be the same for July-September examinees, or will the new percentiles change? https://www.aamc.org/students/download/434504/data/percentilenewmcat.pdf

 

[Affiche]

I don't think anything is "decided", but it's a pretty safe bet lol.

I'm not 100% positive, but I'm fairly confident it will remain the same. I think AAMC released a statement that April examinees would set the scale for 2015. Generally, those percentiles don't change from year to year save +/- 1%, anyway.

 

[emraldragon]

Or consider DO as a possibility.

Edit: I meant this to dovetail with rachiie01's statement above. Since there are posts in between, it comes off as unnecessarily harsh. A 26/27 while not impossible for MD admissions is not a high probability admit, but is still within range for several DO schools. If OP is completely committed to MD admissions, a retake is likely necessary.

 

[GrapesofRath]

Is it necessary to retake a 502 MCAT if applying MD-only? Like is there a chance that adcoms will be forgiving towards the score and consider it as good since it is above 500 (the score AAMC emphasizes)?

Unless you have a hook such as URM or live in a lucky state it is close to mandatory to retake a 26/27 for MD schools.

 

[Goro]

What AAMC hopes to do with the new MCAT is unlikely to happen.

If you're boning for an MD degree, best to retake. I foresee even some high MCAT DO schools (CCOM, AZCOM etc) taking a pass on 502's as well.

Is it necessary to retake a 502 MCAT if applying MD-only? Like is there a chance that adcoms will be forgiving towards the score and consider it as good since it is above 500 (the score AAMC emphasizes)?

 

[Psai]

What AAMC hopes to do with the new MCAT is unlikely to happen.

If you're boning for an MD degree, best to retake. I foresee even some high MCAT DO schools (CCOM, AZCOM etc) taking a pass on 502's as well.

what are they trying to do
i don't even know what these numbers mean

 

[Mad Jack]

Very unlikely to be admitted. You need a retake or you have zero chance unless you are a URM or a Nobel Laureate.

 

[GrapesofRath]

what are they trying to do
i don't even know what these numbers mean

Cliffnotes summary----they want the MCAT to simply be used as a "threshold" type of test to see if someone is capable of handling med school and that's it. There is plenty of research that some believe suggests once MCAT scores go past 27 there isn't a strong enough correlation between them and USLME scores to justify the importance higher scores are given. So AAMC wants the MCAT just to be used to see if someone can be above average on the MCAT and for that to be enough.They don't want those with 29's to be judged much differently than 33's as a rough example.

This by and large is purely a fantasy however. We might(big maybe) one day come to a stage where top schools are more lenient on 33 type MCAT scores and lower tier MDs on 27/28 type scores. But that's a far cry from what AAMC wants and we're still ways away from that happening even if it does.